Blender for roofing granules



March 19, 1957 P. P. STANLEY ET BLENDER FOR ROOFING GRANULES 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1954 wrliil vii and March 1957 P. P.STANLEY ETAL BLENDER FOR ROOFING GRANULES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5,1954 Jnunibry flisrf 52272553 and yrnorz, Efit/Zer United States PatentBLENDER FOR ROOFING GRANULES Peter P. Stanley, Tonawanda, N. Y., andVernon E. Becker, Chicago, 111., assignors to Reichel & Drews, Inc.,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 5, 1954,Serial No. 448,060

6 Claims. (Cl. 222-136) The invention relates generally to a blender ordischarge structure for granular material, such as roofing granules, andmore particularly to a blender adapted to discharge a plurality ofdifferent colored granules in a predetermined sequence.

In the past, machines have been designed to deposit roofing granules andthe like in a variegated pattern, the difierent colored granules beingfed from respective hoppers suitably controlled. However, oftentimes itis desired to change the variegated pattern or, as is termed in theindustry, to vary the blend of the granules. Where a single set ofhoppers is employed, one for each color of the blend, a problem arisesin shifting from one blend to another as it is necessary to refill thehoppers with the new blend, necessitating stopping of the machine whilethis is accomplished. In order to eliminate the closed or shutdownperiod of the machine, an additional hopper was sometimes employed whichcontained only a single color so that the machine could be run on suchsingle color while changing over from one blend to another. Obviously,such an operation is not always practical and may be costly.

The present invention has among its objects the production of a blenderstructure which may be readily shifted from one blend to another withoutshutting down the machine, the change-over taking place merely byactuating a suitable operating lever or the like.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a blenderstructure which utilizes a plurality of double hopper units, each ofwhich may be adjusted to discharge either one of two different coloredgranules, thus enabling the operator to set up the machine for a newblend while the machine is running another blend.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a blenderstructure which is relatively simple in construction, durable in use,and very efiicient for the purposes intended.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown anddescribed will be obvious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosure herein given.

To this end, our invention consists in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, andmore particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a blender embodying the presentinvention with portions thereof broken away to show the details ofconstruction;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. land also through the gear box of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through one of the hopper structures takenapproximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 5--5 of Fig.2; and

2,785,834 Patented Mar. 19, 1957 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

The present invention contemplates the production of a blender structureutilizing a plurality of hoppers, each of which is provided with adischarge opening associated with a feed roller by means of which thegranules are discharged from the hopper onto the feed roller anddeposited therefrom to the roofing material which is to receive thesame. Each hopper is divided into two sections or units, each of whichmay be operatively connected to the discharge opening of the hopper bymeans of a novel valve structure so that by manipulation of the valvestructure either of the units or sections of the hopper may dischargegranules onto the roofing material. The discharge or feed rollersassociated with each hopper may be connected to a suitable drivingsource through suitable clutch mechanisms whereby the feed rollers maybe selectively and intermittently rotated as desired. In actualpractice, the clutch mechanisms may, for example, be of the magnetic orelectric type and controlled through suitable switches adapted to beactuated in a predetermined sequence. For example, the switches could beactuated by a series of cams driven by the same source that actuates therolls for feeding the roofing material through the blender with theparticular blend or sequence of operations being determined by theconstruction of the respective cams. Thus, as the sheet roofing materialpasses beneath the hoppers and the feed rollers associated therewith,the latter may be intermittently rotated to deposit the differentcolored granules in the desired sequence on the roofing material.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, thereference numeral 1 indicates a pair of spaced parallel side plateswhich are supported by angle brackets 2 from a frame structure,indicated generally by the numeral 3, the latter, in the embodimentillustrated, comprising vertical legs or standards 4 connected bylongitudinally extending side channels 5 and transverse channels 6, withthe brackets 2 being secured tothe channel members 5 as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 2. The frame structure 3 may be fabricated in anysuitable manner as, for example, by welding the various elements thereofinto an integral structure. Extending between the side plates 1 are aplurality of hoppers, each indicated generally by the numeral 7, andbeing in efiect double hoppers comprising two sections 8 and 9 asillustrated in Fig. 4.

Each of the hopper structures 7 comprises a pair of end members orplates 11 respectively secured to the side plates 1 with the end plates11 being connected by a pair of downwardly converging cross or sidewalls 12 and 13. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the wall 12 of onehopper extends to the wall 13 of the adjacent hopper and extendingupwardly above the juncture of each intersecting pair of walls 12 and 13is a common partition wall 14, each of the latter extending betweenadjacent end members 11 of the respective hoppers. The walls 12 and 13of the respective hoppers may be secured to the end members or plates 11by any suitable means as, for example, screws 15 passing through thewalls 12 and 13 and threaded into the end members 11. Extending acrossthe hopper between the end members 11 adjacent the bottom of the hopperstructure is a valve or gate structure, indicated generally by thenumeral 16, comprising a tubular valve or gate housing 17 and aconcentrically positioned valve member or gate 18. The tubular housing17 extends between the side members 11 and is held in position bysuitable means as for example, screws 19 extending through the walls 12and 13 and threaded into the member 17. As illustrated in Fig. 3, thevalve m ember or gate 18 is journaled in the end members 11 passingthrough the side plates 1, and is axially held in position by a collar21 positioned at one end of the'member 18 and at the opposite end by alever 22 which is rigidly secured to the member 18 so that the lattermay be partially rotated by manipulation of the lever.

Extending upwardly from the valve 16 is a partition wall 23, the latterin the embodiment illustrated, being positioned at its side edges invertically extending slots 24 formed in the end members 11 whereby thepartition wall 23 is rigidly supported in operative position, dividingthe hopper '7 into the sections or units 8 and 9.

As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the valve casing 17 is provided with 'aplurality of .longitudinally extending openings or ports 25, 26,'and 27.The openings 25 are located within the section 8 of the hopper and areseparated by connecting portions 28 at spaced intervals along the member17 to retain rigidity in the valve casing. In like manner, the openings26 and 27, are sirnil'arly constructed with the openings 26 beingpositioned in the section or unit 9 of the hopper and theopening 27communicating with the lower or discharge end 29 of the hopperstructure. The valve gate 13 is suitably formed or cut away forapproximately half of its circumference, as indicated at 31, leavingcylindrical portions 32 intermediate the portions 31 with the portions32 being axially aligned with the portions 28 of the housing 17 andforming supporting means for the central portion of the member 18.

Thus, the valve 16 is provided with two series of inlet openings 25 and26, respectively, each series communicating with a: respective unit orsection of the hopper, and discharge openings 27 communicating with thedischarge end of the hopper, so that by suitably rotating the valve gate18, the openings or passages-31 formed therein may be positioned tooperatively connect either series of inlet openings 25 or-26 with thedischarge opening 27, or the gate 18 may be rotated to the positionillustrated in Figs. 3 or 4 wherein both series of inlet openings areclosed.

Positioned below the discharge opening 29 of each hopper is a feedroller 33 which is adapted to receive material from the hopperdischarged through the 'opening 29 and deposited therefrom upon theroller which will carry the same from the discharge opening and depositit upon the roofing material S positioned below the roller. Carried byeach of the Walls 13 and extending substantially to the roller 33 is abearing strip 34 of resilient or semi-resilient material, the strip 34being mounted-on the wall 13 by any suitable means, such as a retainingstrip or bar 35 secured to the wall 13 by bolts 36 passing through thebar 35, strip 34, and threaded into the wall 13. 7

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the lower edge of the wall 12is spaced upwardly above the correspond ing edge of the wall 13 and isprovided with an adjustable extension, indicated generally by thenumeral 37, the latter comprising a plate 38 which is slidable in aplane extending substantially parallel to the wall 12, and provided atits lower end with a longitudinally extending bar 39 secured to theplate 38 by bolts 41 or other suitable means. It will be apparent thatthe amount of granules deposited from the hopper structure onto the feedroller 33 will be dependent upon the spacing between the lower edge ofthe bar 39 carried by the extension 37 and the feed roller 33. Thus, bypositioning the lower edge of the bar 39 close to the surface of theroll, a relatively small amount of granules will be withdrawn from thehopper and as the space is increased, a proportionately greater amountof granules will be fed.

The adjustment of the extension 37 is controlled by a shaft 42 extendingbetween the side plates 1 and supported in suitable journal blocks orbearings 43 mounted on their respective side plates. Each shaft 42has-rigidly mounted thereon a pair of pinions 44 which are meshed withrespective rack blocks 45 rigidly secured to. the plate '38. Thedimensions of the blocks 45 are such that 4 screws 53 and tightening theother an adjustment 'be- 4 the plates 38 are maintained in operativeengagement with the walls 12 and by rotating the shaft 42, the extension37 associated therewith may beraised or lowered with respect to the feedroller 33.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the shafts 42 are brought out at oneend to the frame structure 4, the latter being provided with alongitudinally extending channel 46 having bearing blocks 47 mountedthereon through which each shaft 42 extends, and rigidly mounted on thefree end of each shaft 42 is a lever arm48. Rotatably mounted on eachshaft 42 adjacent the lever arm 48 is a handle member 49, the latterhaving a radially extending wing 51 positioned between spaced lugs orears 52 carried by the arm 48. The handle 49 is adjustably secured tothe arm 48 by screws 53 threaded into the lugs or cars 52 and adapted tobear at their inner ends on the wing 51 so that by backing oflE one ofthe tween the arm 48 and handle 49 may be effected.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, the handle 49 is provided with adownwardly depending portion 54 terminatingvin an inwardly directedflange 55 in which is threaded a screw 56 adapted to bear on the lowerflange of the channel member 46 when the handle 49 is at one extremeposition of its movement. The limiting stop thus formed, likewise, isadjustable by turning the screw 56 inwardly or outwardly and the lattermay be locked in position by a suitable lock nut 57. It will be apparentthat with this construction, the maximum throw of the handle 49 and thusrotation of the shaft 42 may be limited in the direction which wouldmove the extension 37 toward the feed roller 33 and, at the same time, aconsiderable latitude in the operating adjustment of the extension maybe achieved by adjustment of the screws 53. This construction isparticularly advantageous where for one reason or another as, forexample, when it is desired to empty one of the hoppers, the extension37 may be moved to wide open position and subsequently returned to theoriginal adjustment. p

Carried by the frame 4 at the opposite side of the structure to thehandles 49 is a gear box, indicated generally by the numeral 58, thelatter being suitably supported by V the uprights 4 and the channelmember 5. Each of the shafts 59 carrying the respective feed rollers 33are journaled at one end in bearing blocks 61 mounted on the channelmember 5 adjacent the channel member 46,.and at the opposite end bybearings 62 mounted on the gear box 58. Also journaled in the gear box58 in suitable bearings 63 are a plurality of countershafts 64, and adrive shaft65 which extends outwardly from the gear box. The shaft 65 isconnected to a drive sprocket 66 through a manually operable clutch 67which is adapted to be actuated by the arm 68. Carried byeach oftheshafts 64 and drive shaft 65 is a pinion 69 adapted to mesh withgears 71 rotatably mounted'on the shafts 59 whereby the drive shaft 65through the pinion 69 mounted thereon will rotate the adjacent spurgears 71 and, in turn, pinions 69 on the shaft 64 will transmit power tothe remaining spur gears 71, all of the latter, of'course, rotating inthe same direction. Each of the spur gears 71 is adapted to beoperatively connected to its respective shaft 59 through a suitableclutch as, for example, a magnetic clutch, indicated generally by thenumeral 72, comprising a driving member 73 operatively connected to itsassociated spur gear 71 and a driven member 74 rigidly connected to theshaft 59. A suitable commutator structure, indicated generally by thenumeral 75, may be utilized to, conduct actuating current to theoperating winding of the clutch assembly. Specific details of the clutchstructure are omittedas the latter forms no part of the presentinvention. Thus, by actuation of the proper clutch, granules from anyone of the hoppers may be discharged onto the sheet S of the roofingmaterial- Obviously, while anyof the feed rollers 33 are stationary, nogranular material will be fed from the hopper associated therewith.

As previously mentioned, the magnetic clutches 72 may be actuated bysuitable switch mechanisms which, in turn, are opened or closed bysuitablemeangsuch as, for example, a series of cams mounted on a camshaft so that as the cams are rotated, the various switches will bealternately opened and closed in a predetermined sequence.

Any suitable means as for example, feed rollers of the type commonlyemployed may be utilized to advance the sheet roofing material S belowthe hoppers, the driving construction preferably being such that the camshaft or other actuating means for' the magnetic clutch controllingswitches is, likewise, driven by the same source so that the pattern ofthecolored granules on the roofing material remains the same for varyingfeeding speeds of the sheet S.

In use, the operator fills up corresponding sections of each hopper withgranules of the desired color to produce a predetermined pattern on thesheet roofing material to be passed through the machine, the valve 18being positioned, by means of the handle 22, in closed relation asillustrated in Fig. 4. The extensions 37 are then individually adjustedby means of their respective lever arms 49 whereby the desired amount ofgranules will be fed from each hopper. The advancing means for the sheetS is then actuated and the handle 22' moved to a position to open thedesired hoppers, permitting the granules to be deposited on the sheet inaccordance with the actuation of the feed rollers associated with therespective hoppers. If it is desired to change the pattern, the unusedsections of each hopper are filled with granules of the desired color,which operation may take place while the machine is running, and bymerely shifting the handle 22', the valves may be moved to close theoutlets of those sections which had been discharging, and open thesections containing the new blend, which changeover, obviously, may beaccomplished without stopping the sheet S.

It will be apparent from the above description that we have provided ablending machine which while exceedingly simple in constructionpossesses desired advantages over prior machines of the same generaltype, and permits substantially continuous operation of the machineirrespec tive of changeovers in the blends or patterns being run.

Having thus described our invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing fromthe spirit of our invention; hence, we do not wish to be understood aslimiting ourselves to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a blending device for granulated material, the combination of ahollow hopper structure having an elongated longitudinally extendingrelatively narrow discharge port in the bottom portion thereof, apartition wall longitudinally dividing the hopper structure into twohopper section, rotary valve means having its axis extending in the samedirection as said port operative to selectively connect either hoppersection with said discharge port, and a feed roller positioned belowsaid discharge port operative to effect substantially uniform flow ofgranulated material therefrom.

2. In a blending device for granulated material, the combination of aplurality of hollow hopper structures each having a longitudinallyextending relatively narrow discharge port in the bottom portionthereof, a partition wall longitudinally dividing the hopper structureinto two hopper sections, rotary valve means having its axis extendingin the same direction as said port operative to selectively connecteither hopper section with said discharge port, a feed roller positionedbelow each discharge port operative to efiect a substantially uniformflow of granulated material therefrom from the hopper associatedtherewith and means operatively connecting said valve means whereby thelatter may be simultaneously controlled.

3. In a blending device for granulated roofing material, the.combination of a plurality of operatively aligned hopper structures eachhaving a pair of downwardly converging side walls with the lower edgesthereof being spaced apart to form a longitudinally extending dischargeport, end Walls operatively connecting respective ends of said sidewalls, a gate structure positioned in said hopper structure adjacentsaid discharge port, said gate structure comprising elongatedlongitudinally extending stationary member and a cooperable coaxiallymovable member, the stationary member extending from one side wall tothe other, a partition wall connecting said end walls and extendingdownwardly to said stationary member dividing the hopper structure intotwo hopper sections, :said stationary member having a pair of inletopenings therein, one communicating with one hopper section and theother with the other hopper section, and having an outlet openingtherein communicating with said discharge port, said movable memberbeing constructed to operatively connect either inlet opening and thehopper section associated therewith with said discharge port, and a feedroller positioned below each discharge port operative to effect asubstantially uniform flow of granulated material from the hopperassociated therewith, and means operatively connecting the respectivemovable members of said gate structures whereby they may besimultaneously moved into similar positions.

4. In a blending device for granulated roofing material, the combinationof a hopper structure having a pair of downwardly converging side wallswith the lower edges thereof being spaced apart to form a dischargeport, end walls operatively connecting respective ends of said sidewalls, a gate structure positioned in said hopper structure adjacentsaid discharge port, said gate structure comprising a hollow stationarymember and a cooperable rotatable member, the stationary memberextending from one side wall to the other, a partition wall connectingsaid end walls and extending downwardly to said stationary memberdividing the hopper structure into two hopper sections, said stationarymember having a pair of inlet openings therein, one communicating withone hopper section and the other with the other hopper section, andhaving an outlet opening therein communieating with said discharge port,said movable member being constructed to operatively connect eitherinlet opening and the hopper section associated therewith with saiddischarge port, and a feed roller positioned below said discharge portoperative to efiect a substantially uniform flow of granulated materialtherefrom.

5. In a blending device for granulated roofing material, the combinationof a pair of side plates, a plurality of hopper structures each having apair of downwardly converging side walls with the lower edges thereofbeing spaced apart to form a discharge port, adjustable means forvarying the effective size of the discharge port, end walls secured tocorresponding side plates operatively connecting respective ends of saidside walls, a gate structure positioned in said hopper structureadjacent said discharge port, said gate structure comprising a tubularstationary member and a cooperable rotatable member, the stationarymember extending from one side wall to the other, a partition wallconnecting said end walls and extending downwardly to said stationarymember, dividing the hopper structure into two hopper sections, saidstationary member having a pair of inlet openings therein, onecommunicating with one hopper section and to the other with the otherhopper section, and having an outlet opening therein communicating withsaid discharge port, said movable member being constructed tooperatively connect either inlet opening and the hopper sectionassociated therewith with said discharge port, a feed roller positionedbelow each discharge port operative to control the flow of granulatedmaterial therefrom, means for selectively rotating said feed rollers,and means for simultaneously controlling said gate structure.

6. In a blending device for granulated roofing materiai, the combinationof a hopper structure having a pair of downwardly converging side wallswith the lower edges thereof being spaced apart to form a dischargeport, end walls operatively connecting respective ends of said sidewalls, a gate structure positioned in said hopper structure adjacentsaid discharge port, said gate structure comprising concentricstationary and movable members, the stationary member being tubular andextending the other hopper section, and having an out-let opening inoperative upon rotation of the member to connect either from one sidewall to the other and connected thereto,

municating With one hopper section and the other with inlet opening andthe hopper section associated therewith with said discharge port, and afeed roller positioned below said discharge port operative to controlthe flow of granulated material therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this' patent Jennings 1 Oct. 25, 1938

